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Are the ETSU Buccaneers Going Down the Drain?
Two basketball starters have entered the transfer portal and new head coach Jason Shay’s public appearances have exuded shyness. Can he keep the Bucs on top or will he be “MTA Shay?”
New East Tennessee State head men’s basketball coach Jason Shay has come off as less-than-charismatic in his first public appearances.
In many ways it’s surprising, because I didn’t feel he was shy and stiff when I interviewed him on my talk show.
Nevertheless, he still can’t refer to his former superiors/now contemporaries Steve Forbes and Bruce Pearl by their first names, his two would-be returning starters, Bo Hodges and Daivien Williamson, have entered in to the transfer portal, and frankly Shay just seems awkward.
This is not to say Shay was a bad hire. Only time will tell, and one wonders if the reason Shay may look weak is ETSU administration made him look less-than-ready by conducting a coaching search rather than hire the obvious and recommended choice as Forbes’ successor immediately.
On Wednesday, the Johnson City Press quoted former Tennessee Volunteers guard Chris Lofton as crediting Shay with advancing his career and caliber of play to become the Southeastern Conference’s leading scorer.